From the founding of the Roman empire to its fall in A.D. 476, Rome dominated Europe and much of North Africa, the Near East, and Asia Minor. Although Rome's early history is difficult to separate from the legends that formed around it, the city appears to have begun as a community of central Italian peoples known as Latins. The Latins merged with the Etruscans, who had come to Italy from Asia Minor before 800 B.C.

 The ancient Romans were great builders. They built the Colosseum, a huge public entertainment center that could hold 70,000 spectators. It was built of concrete, faced with stone, as were most amphitheaters. It was built in the early days of the Roman Empire, around 70 CE.

 The ancient Romans appropriated (a nice word for "stole") their culture from the Greeks, whose creativity they greatly admired. Along with other facets of Greek culture, the Romans adopted the Greek myths as well--making sure they changed the names from Greek to Latin. Zeus became Jupiter, Hera became Juno, Hermes became Mercury, etc.

 There were many thousands of Roman gods. The ancient Romans believed that gods lived everywhere - in trees, under a bush, by the side of the road, in a burrow, in a flower, in a stream, under the bed, and perhaps even in the stove in your house. There was even a deity who lived inside the latch that opened the door to each home.

 Jupiter – Chief god, god of rain, lightning and ruled over laws and social order  Mars – god of vegetation and war  Neptune – god of the sea  Venus – goddess of love and beauty